Death of Horse Found in Cemetery Still a Mystery

Death of Horse Found in Cemetery Still a Mystery

RESCUE–

A recently placed memorial at a rural cemetery may not seem unusual, but this one is for a horse that was killed at Jayhawk Cemetery two weeks ago. The 35-year-old Gelding named Trumpet was found partially impaled on a decorative iron fence after it disappeared from its stall at a nearby ranch.

Above three candles and and cross made of flowers is a reward poster offering $5,000 for the capture and prosecution of the person, or persons, responsible for the horse’s death and “unknown brutal acts” committed against the animal. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office says the reward is being offered by the horse owner — who is staying anonymous because she fears retaliation.

“She’s had that horse for a long time and that was her favorite horse,” said neighbor Tom O’Brien.

Detectives are struggling to piece together what happened between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Jan. 30 when Trumpet disappeared from its stall. Investigators found no damage to the gate or other gates leading out of the property. The cemetery where Trumpet’s body was found is also gated. In addition, a horse blanket it was wearing was found nearby.

“But it wasn’t ripped, it wasn’t torn and the buckles that held it on were in good shape,” said Lt. Tim Becker of the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.

Becker says they simply don’t know if it was a torture killing or if any person is responsible for the being at the cemetery. Neighbors are convinced the horse was taken out of its stall perhaps because someone had a disagreement with the owner.

“It’s a helpless harmless animal and if you have a problem with somebody, you deal with that person,” said Jeff Lewis who lives near the cemetery.

No one knows if the horse was injured purposely or whether it was left at the cemetery and it injured itself trying to get out. The sheriff’s office wants anyone who has information about the incident to contact detective Natasha Gallagher or anyone at the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department.